Flare



Feb. 3, 1948.

c. H. VANDERLAAN FLARE Filed April 23, 1946 INVENTOR. C/ MRLEJ H. W/VDERLAA/V A TTORIVEY l atented Feb. 3, 1948 FLARE Charles H. Vanderlaan, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Radio Patents Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 23, 1946, Serial No. 664,344

3 Claims. 1

This application is a continuation in part of my abandoned application Serial No. 532,278, filed April 22, 1944.

The present invention relates to flares, lamps, evaporators and similar devices comprising a container or vessel filled with a suitable liquid such as fuel oil, etc, and a wick to carry the fuel or liquid to the point of combustion or evaporation by capillary action.

In the known devices of this character, such as kerosene lamps, lanterns, flares, heating appliances, etc, a wick of cotton or similar fabric material is used which has many disadvantages and shortcomings giving rise to numerous defects and deficiencies. In the first place, a wick or liquid feeding member of this type is subject, to constant deterioration, requiring frequent trimming and replacements. It furthermore causes clogging, uneven burning of the flame if not constantly adjusted and regulated, as Well as smudging and other well known defects.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which is substantially devoid of the above-mentioned drawbacks and defects; which is simple and cheap to manufacture; which practically requires no or little attention during use, and which will insure a uniform liquid or fuel feed or discharge within a practically unlimited life.

With these objects in view, the invention involves generally the use of a unitary fuel container or vessel and a wick or fuel feeding member of porous material, such as porcelain or other ceramic materials, the pores or interstices of which are of a suitable size or diameter to feed or carry a desired liquid to the point of combustion or evaporation by capillary action substantially without deterioration or impairment of its emciency during operation.

The invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a few practical embodiments thereof taken in reference to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a, cross-section of a lamp or flare constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a unitary fuel container and permanent wick member consisting of porcelain, ceramic or equivalent porous material and comprising a container portion or vessel in and a central rod or wick ll extending into said vessel and projecting outwardly therefrom to provide a burner or evaporating member l2. Vessel H1 is provided with a suitable filling hole liquid-tightly closed by a threaded tap screw M or any other suitable closure device. The outer surface of the vessel l0 excepting the surface of the burner or evaporator I2 is glazed or otherwise treated or coated with liquid-impervious material, as indicated by the dotted line l3, whereby to prevent exudation or evaporation of liquid from surfaces other than said burner or evaporator. The porosity of the material is suitably chosen so that a given liquidsuch as kerosene or other fuel in the vessel will be carried or fed to the exposed surface of the burner l2 by capillary action.

If desired, the inside surface of the vesssel l0 excepting the wick I I may similarly be glazed or coated with liquid-impervious material to prevent undue absorption of fuel. Alternatively, if the inner surface is left uncoated, the wick portion Ii may be omitted, in which case sufficient fuel or other liquid is absorbed by the vessel walls and fed to the burner or evaporator 12. In this manner, the construction of the device is still further simplified.

Referring to the modified construction shown in Figure 2, wherein like reference numbers identify like parts as shown in Figure 1, the vessel [0 is surrounded by an enclosure l5 of a, shockabsorbing material such as cork, felt, etc., secured thereto by gluing or in any other suitable manner such as by means of metal bands as shown at Hi. There are furthermore shown in Figure 2 means for regulating or controlling the brightness or size of the flame if the device is used as a lamp, flare, heater or the like. For this purpose, there is shown a cylindrical metal sleeve l'l secured to the lower portion of the burner l2 by a screw thread or the like. A further cylindrical sleeve l8 having an inwardly threaded lower portion engaging suitable outer threads of the sleeve I! may be raised or lowered by rotating it by the aid of a knob 29 in such a manner that the upper portion l9 spaced by a suitable distance from the burner or wick l l and provided with draft or vent holes, will act as a regulator to control the size or brightness of the flame in a manner readily understood. If desirable, means may be provided as shown at 2| in Figure 2 for detachably securing a transparent or translucent globe or cylinder enclosing the flame in a manner customary with known kerosene lamps and lanterns.

The liquid vessel may be of any desired size and shape and preferably consists of porous ceramic or an equivalent material.

There is thus provided by the invention a device suitable for various uses or applications as a lamp, flare, evaporator for improving the air in rooms, outdoor heating appliance as used in orchards, etc., which has a practically unlimited life, requires little or no attention, and is substantially devoid of the disadvantages and shortcomings inherent indgnowndevices of'this typ inga V wick offibrous m ateriala s a liquid 'carryinggor feeding element.

While I have shown and described a few dej sirable embodiments of the invention, it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of 1;

illustration and that various; ch a r 1ges ;in; sl 1 ape,. j

proportion and arrangementiof part s,,as ,vvell as the substitution of equivalent elements and. materials for those herein described,may ,be nade Without departing from the spirit and scope of evaporating area.

, 3. A lamp comprising a vessel of porous re fractory material, a wick of the same material 3 integral withgsaid vessel and extending outwardly sthuerefronizto Fform a burner having a desired evaporating surface area, said material having a porosity ,sllitalole ,to cause a combustible liquid fuel in said vessel to be fed to said burner by the invention as defined in the appended claims;

The specification and drawing are accordingly to be regarded in,anillustrativerather than: a limiting-sense. e

.I claim: q

'1. A deviceof thelcl' aracter described comprising. a vessel. of porous' material,-a wickpf the same material integral with said vessel and extending outwardlyjtherefromrto present a desired evaporating surface area, said material having a porosityrsuitable x to causeg-a liquid in said vessel to be j d t a ev norat n erea bvca i action, and i a liquid-impervious coating covering t u sur. qee ai vesse an i k xcc eg a devappratin are capillary'action, and a protective coating covering the outside surface of saidvessel and burner 2 r v n ll5aPi91 ;Q illllidiherefrom; exceptin aid va ating area CHARLES H. NANDERLAAN.

* arissnsriq omn filesof-zthis patent:

' UNITED STATES A E S Buberl July 21, 1925 

